New Orleans Blues Comes to Britain!

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The Band

OLIVER CARPENTER – Vocals & Trumpet

Oliver’s vocal variety and boundless enthusiasm drive Stomp & Holler as it did The Big Blues Tribe. Recently described as “The nearest singer to Tom Waits that we have,” and “one of the greatest singers we have”, by Blues in Britain magazine, Oliver roars and hollers like the best of them.

From his time playing with Chris Lomas and Phil Bond in acoustic close harmony trio Mumbo-Jumbo www.mumbo-jumbo.biz, and The Tribe, Oliver is a familiar face at festivals and blues venues across the country.

He also plays the trumpet – much to the chagrin of his fellow musicians!

Dave Carroll - Guitar & Vocals

We have a new guitarist and what a star he is! Dave fled the Groves of Academe in’69 to become a founder-member of the Steve Gibbons Band where he cut his teeth on a white Stratocaster. 5 albums, two Who tours and a couple of TOTP’s later, Dave unplugged and refocused on his classical guitar. In ’91 he first trod the Shakespearean boards at the RSC becoming resident guitarist with the Stratford band, and composing two albums of classical solos in his spare time. But the urge to stomp and holler was bound to return some day.

Dave’s two classical albums are ‘Guitar’(2006) and ‘The Eternal Mountain’(2010). He also plays with The Details, an all-original acoustic-based Folk-Art band.All three albums are available through CDbaby as CD’s or downloads.Also check out Spirit of Tango, an accordion-guitar-double bass functions trio that allows Dave to explore his jazzy side.

Also check out Spirit of Tango where Dave teams up with Phil Bond in an accordion-guitar-double bass functions trio….etc

Phil is the latest addition to Stomp & Holler. Born in Worcester, he played with a local band and then took himself to Birmingham. He stuck around a while – 3 years – and moved to London.

He’s played with a lot of people some of whom are famous but he doesn’t want to sound like a ”Flash ‘Arry” so he won’t tell us who they are. Phil had piano and organ lessons with the sub-organist of Worcester Cathedral. He also plays flute, guitar and piano accordion. He writes a lot of music and has slept on a great many sofas.

John Sanderson – Saxes, Flute & Vocals

John has backed artists such as Irma Thomas, Wilson Pickett, Screaming Jay Hawkins and even Screaming Lord Sutch. With Jazz-Rock outfit Swift he won the Young Jazz Musician of the Year award. John has gigged with the likes of Jim Mullen and Don Weller, and more recently performed and recorded with Guy Barker. He has also played on an album along with Jon Hiseman. Closer to home (and slightly less illustriously) he’s worked with Oliver before, guested with Mumbo-Jumbo on their CD Life of Riley, and fans of the Big Blues Tribe may remember John as a regular dep. In 2011, he was nominated for a British Blues Award.

Frank Walker – Bass

Frank is the newest recruit to Stomp, taking on the bass seat from Chris Lomas. Frank is a well known face across the Midlands music scene currently playing with a number of bands including Simon ‘Honeyboy’ Hickling and C-Jam. If you can find a top Birmingham musician who hasn’t played in a band with Frank your a rare beast.

MARTIN BALL – Drums, Percussion & Vocals

Martin started playing drums semi-professionally aged 13, turning fully pro on leaving school at 17. He spens several years backing and working alongside acts asuch as Lonnie Donegan, Joe Brown, Ruby Murray, Soloman King, jazz tap dancer Will Gaines and many more.

After years of touring the UK and Europe with showbands and original bands, he formed his own 70’s showband ‘The Gutter Band’ and then went on to form ‘The Groovies’, each touring extensively across UK and Europe.

Martin finally hung up his professional sticks in 2005 to concentrate on other business interests, but has now decided to return to the ‘shed building’ business with Stomp & Holler.

All photos on this website by Graham Munn unless otherwise stated. Thanks Graham for all the shots – you’re a wonderful asset for the Worcester music scene!!

2 thoughts on “The Band”

Had a fantastic evening yesterday at Burton’s Brewhouse. Until the last number I had heard none of the music played, in fact I’d never heard of “Stomp & Holler” nor none of its musicians. However, that made the night for our party of four doubly refreshing. You deserved a larger and more lively audience. I shall be looking forward to seeing you again. I’m now going to listen to your CD!